Thanks to the Liget Budapest Project, the botanical garden, which houses unique plants in City Park has been restored to its former glory. To celebrate its reopening, the park has been named after MIhály Mőcsényi who created the foundations of teaching landscaping in Hungary – writes a press release from Városliget Zrt. 

Mőcsényi Mihály Botanical Garden

“With his versatile knowledge, Mihály Mőcsényi was an internationally respected scholar of landscaping. It was a great honour that he participated in the formulation of the landscaping tender announced to revitalise City Park and that he judged the entries as co-chair of the panel. City Park shall forever preserve Mihály Mőcsényi's spirit. By renaming the botanical garden in his honour, we would like to commemorate the legendary professor,” said Benedek Gyorgyevics, CEO of Városliget Zrt., the company responsible for the implementation of the Liget Budapest Project.

A total of 335 new species were planted in the renewed Mőcsényi Mihály Botanical Garden, reaching 35,000 individual plants (Photo: Városliget Zrt.)

The botanical garden was opened in 1967, on the centenary of FŐKERT's, the company that maintains parks around Budapest, creation. The demonstrative garden houses herbs and spices, a kitchen garden, grapes, fruits, perennial flowers, alongside water and swamp plants and those best suited to rock gardens. A small hut stood at the centre of the garden, which also included a spring-fed bubbling water system and a pergola with two water pools.

Over the decades, the condition of the garden deteriorated steadily. Its vegetation shrunk, its infrastructure slowly became obsolete, and the hut fell into disrepair. The long-awaited renovation was finally made possible through the Liget Budapest Project. The original 1967 and 1969 plans, stored in the FŐKERT design archives, and the 1980 implementation plan were taken into consideration during planning. 

The area of the Mőcsényi Mihály Botanical Garden grew to the south, facing Királydomb, and the walking path in the garden was moved behind a tree line. A pergola has been set up beside one of the promenades with a toddler trail to help visitors roam around the park.

The area of the Mőcsényi Mihály Botanical Garden grew to the south, facing Királydomb, and the walking path in the garden was moved behind a tree line (Photo: Városliget Zrt.)

A KNEIPP trail with various surfaces has also been added. Walking the trail barefoot improves balance and posture. The streams of the park once again follow their original paths fed by a spring. Open waters that house water and swamp plant have also been restored.

A total of 335 new species were planted in the renewed Mőcsényi Mihály Botanical Garden, reaching 35,000 individual plants. A modern information centre replaced the small hut at its centre.

The garden also houses an open-air knowledge centre for biology and natural science lessons (Photo: Városliget Zrt.)

“After its renovation, the Botanical Garden has once again become a colourful, friendly community space, and centre of knowledge about our environment and can serve as a venue for outdoor biology lessons. That is why we have paid special attention to the information system. Having groups from local kindergartens and schools visit and learn about as many different varieties of plants as possible was one of our major goals” – said Benedek Gyorgyevics, CEO of Városliget Zrt.

The demonstrative garden houses herbs and spices, a kitchen garden, grapes, fruits, perennial flowers, alongside water and swamp plants and those best suited to rock gardens (Photo: Városliget Zrt.)

A new dog park 

In the second phase of development in City Park, a second thematic dog adventure park awaits owners and their four-legged companions. The new paradise for dogs covers nearly half a hectare and can be found near the intersection of Ajtósi Dürer Way and Stefánia Road. It is surrounded by a fence with several sluice entrances. 

The new dog park is easily accessible near the intersection of Ajtósi Dürer Way and Stefánia Road (Photo: Városliget Zrt.)

The dog park has separate areas for smaller and larger breeds, ensuring misunderstandings are kept to a minimum. Designers have added terrain features, agility toys, tunnels and jumps to both sections. Drinking fountains and benches ensure visitors and dogs are comfortable, and a dozen containers for pet waste will hopefully keep the area clean. 

It should be noted that except for a few areas, dogs can be let free in the entirety of City Park, regardless of the new dog park. The greens of the new dog park have also been revitalised. Six new trees have been planted alongside thousands of shrubs and perennials. Similarly to its cousin on Hermina Road, it is one of Budapest's most friendly dog parks. 

Running in City Park

Running is one of the most popular sports. Hundreds of thousands of people around the country and tens of thousands in Budapest go for a run every day. The new running track in City Park was built specifically for them.

"City Park has become an even more versatile sports venue, following the opening of the Sports Centre in the Autumn, and the new running track now. We are pleased to offer an alternative to the Margaret Island running track in Pest, which provides runners with modern and safe conditions. The track will be opened to athletes in the coming days” said Benedek Gyorgyevics.

A green area of over 150,000 square metres has been revitalised in City Park (Photo: Városliget Zrt.)

The running track was planned in consultation with running organisations in Budapest to ensure that the course met the needs and demands of runners.  The result is a 2-kilometre track of outstanding quality, covered in coloured synthetic material and illuminated along its entire length.

Warm-up areas have been created at entrances to the track which weaves its way through the trees of the park. Drinking fountains can be found along the course, and runners can use the accessible changing rooms of the City Park Sports Centre.

Watch the video about the Mőcsényi Mihály Botanical Garden here.

Source: Városliget Zrt.

Cover photo: The botanical garden, houses some unique plants in City Park (Photo: Városliget Zrt.)